THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Superior International Junior Hockey League announced Tuesday that Thunder Bay North Stars forward Joel Willan has been named its Play It Again Sports Player of the Week for the period ending Jan. 13.
In a pair of outings over the weekend, the 19-year-old from nearby Nipigon, Ont., picked up multiple points in each of them helping Thunder Bay skate a two-game home sweep of the Thief River Falls Norskies at the Fort William Gardens.
Friday night saw Willan dish out two assists, including helping set-up the game winner, in a 5-2 North Stars triumph over the Norskies.
Then on Saturday evening he tallied twice, which included notching the difference maker in a 4-1 Thunder Bay triumph.
Willan enters play this week sitting sixth in league offensively production with 47 in just 29 contests on 16 goals and 31 assists.
Also, of note, so far this season in games where Willan has registered at least one point, the North Stars boast a record of 18-0-1-0.
Also earning consideration for player of the week honours was Michael Di Lullo, (F) Red Lake Miners; Jacob Siebenga, (F) Dryden GM Ice Dogs; Alec Severson, (D) Thief River Falls Norskies; Brett Hahkala, (F) Fort Frances Lakers and Elias Thompson, (F) Minnesota Iron Rangers.
SIJHL – Play It Again Sports Player of the Week
Week 1: Keighan Gerrie, (F) Thunder Bay North Stars
Week 2: Brock Aiken, (G) Thunder Bay North Stars
Week 3: Bryce Young, (F) Red Lake Miners
Week 4: Kyle Auger, (D) Thunder Bay North Stars
Week 5: Nick Corneliusen, (G) Minnesota Iron Rangers
Week 6: Bryce Young, (F) Red Lake Miners
Week 7: Fletcher Bolda, (G) Thief River Falls Norskies
Week 8: Ben Erwin, (F) Thunder Bay North Stars
Week 9: Connor Bowey, (D) Thief River Falls Norskies
Week 10: Bryce Young, (F) Red Lake Miners
Week 11: Blake Nelson, (F) Thief River Falls Norskies
Week 12: Trey Palermo, (F) Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Week 13: Cameron Coutre, (F) Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Week 14: Jake Eischen, (D) Thief River Falls Norskies
Week 15: Ryan Mignault, (F) Thunder Bay North Stars
Week 16: Joel Willan, (F) Thunder Bay North Stars
Photo credit: Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com